My Surprise Mate

Dane moved Kyra’s bassinet from the living room into our bedroom.

As I got Kyra situated in our room, Dane went outside to talk to the guys and fill them in.

He wasn’t gone long and told me our house would be guarded from now until Devin is found.I had this gut feeling there was more going on than we realized.I couldn’t sleep at all, and Dane slept off and on.I lay there watching Kyra most of the night and every little noise I heard had me sitting up in bed.

Kyra woke up around five that morning and I decided to stay up for the day.

After getting us both dressed, I headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.

Kyra seemed to be her normal happy self just like any other morning, blissfully unaware of what was going on.

Unsure if all three guys had stayed outside all night or not, I opened the front door and stepped out to find Zayd standing near the steps, "Good morning," I told him.

He smiled at me as he walked up the steps, "Morning dear.You should still be asleep."

He pulled me in for a hug.

Zayd and Adria acted like parents I never had, and they always seemed to help ease my worries.

"I couldn’t sleep and, besides, Kyra woke up hungry this morning."

he smiled and nodded his head, "well she is a growing girl, and we tend to eat more than normal humans."

"l was going to offer some breakfast and coffee but wasn’t sure or Colby.

"I'll take some coffee," Zayd replied.

"Me too!" I turned to find Ash walking toward the porch.

Neither of them looked as tired as I felt this morning.I led them into the kitchen and started pouring them each a cup while they sat down at the table.

"Good morning little princess," Zayd cooed to Kyra.She smiled brightly at him as he picked her up.

"Did y’all stay outside the whole night?" I questioned them.

"Yes and no,"

Ash started, "Four people were guarding all night, but we did rotate out with three of our best warriors to be able to squeeze in a little sleep."

I nodded in understanding as I handed them their mugs.

"Don’t forget Adria was here periodically through the night too."

"I had no idea she was out here too."

I watched as Zayd and Ash exchanged a knowing look, "What you have never seen is pissed off Adria when her family is being threatened.She wasn’t necessarily coming out to help guard but more to make sure we were doing it the ‘right’ way."

Both guys began to laugh, "she had us stationed around the house so there wasn’t a single side left unprotected, and every 15 minutes we had to switch spots to keep us alert."

Zayd was shaking his head as he spoke.

Dane walked into the kitchen wearing only a pair of sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Did we wake you?" I asked as he wrapped his arms around me and rested his head on top of mine.

He was watching Zayd playing with Kyra.

"No, you didn’t wake me.It’s just time to get up."

The front door opened as Adria came rushing in, have no idea how much trouble you two were fixing to be in." she pointed her finger at Ash and Zayd.

"Holly invited us in for coffee,"

Zayd started telling her as he walked toward her with Kyra, "you know I would never leave this angel unprotected."

Adria sighed, "I know honey, I just...I won’t let them get to her."

Zayd handed Kyra to her, "None of us will,"

Ash finally spoke.

I looked at Dane when there was a light knock at the door, "It’s Genesis and Blaze,"

Ash said as he went to open the door.

"Good morning,"

Genesis greeted as she followed Blaze into the house.

Blaze went straight to Adria and began talking to Kyra.

After setting Kyra on her playmat, Adria came and sat down at the table with us, "Should we have our meeting now or later in the office?"

She cut straight to the point.

"We just need Colby here and we can do it now.No reason to wait." I answered.

"He’s on his way,"

Dane reached over, slipping his hand into mine.

took a seat at the table with

‘dream’ and received many gasps and low

whole time I was talking, making me feel as if they knew

is it?" I finally asked, looking back and forth between the two

things that just

squeezed my

my eyebrows as I stared at him, "Like

friendly, maybe a little too friendly, and when he told us about the

convenient was that? Now we are to believe that Devin and Nyla were able to not only bring him down but

one to tolerate disrespect from anyone.He’s a very

didn’t want to hurt him," I repeated what

Apollo could have taken them both down without hurting them.His command may not work on Devin, just as it didn’t seem

then, trying to think of anything that seemed odd, but other than what Dane pointed out, I couldn’t remember anything

you think Apollo is

looked at Zayd this time who

part of this than any of us realized.I know this

Zayd told me gently.

little at the thought of being betrayed by my father, the father lam just starting to

do you think you could get in

Colby, I need

bow of heads, a

as everyone slowly left, "When your dad calls, you need to act normal.Don’t let on that we

next to me.I was now

understand," I replied, not really in the

calls to make.Do you want to stay home today, or do you want to go over with me?"

packhouse." I smiled at

out walking

nodded at him

knew when their next move would be? We walked together to the packhouse, stopping a

office next door to his where Adria

both had large books in front of them that looked to be

"Any luck?"

down in her bounce seat.I’m pretty sure Kyra has toys, playpens, and play mats in every room in the

Genesis both looked at me shaking their heads, "Not yet,

Adria replied.

often.I carefully flipped through the

it is rare, but the Moon Goddess has appeared in dreams before.But

she rose from her

go get Blaze and I will be

to fuss just as Dane walked through the door,

closed the book she was currently reading and stood

on the phone; he said he would meet us downstairs for lunch," Dane

the wall above the door, surprised to see

explain

about to miss a meal, I thought

meeting up with everyone as we entered

in her highchair between her and

has happened and is still happening, I couldn’t help but realize that even though Apollo has been friendly since meeting him, I don’t really know anything

focused mainly on Kyra and how she has been

it was odd until

were going there, Apollo would always quickly change the subject back to Kyra or give me

I murmured

we should

of worry,

to my head, but I couldn't help but wonder if Apollo could be in on this with Devin? I mean, I know that Dane doesn’t really trust him, but could Apollo be the mastermind behind this? I didn’t know Devin well enough to say if he had the brains to come up with

anymore, my stomach felt like it was twisted into a thousand knots.I didn’t want to believe that Apollo’s intentions had been anything but good—unfortunately,

the kids to her house so they could take a nap while the rest of us went upstairs to Dane’s

the brains behind all of this," I stated not waiting for everyone

in surprise at

really thinking.Apollo was a little too friendly when he was here.He hasn’t been able to come back to visit in person since, but I have regular phone calls with him.Every phone call is about me and Kyra, mainly Kyra though.Anytime I ask about Devin, or how things are going there, or the prophecy, he is quick to change the subject or gives me very vague

engulfed in silence once I finished spilling

office to gauge everyone’s

I agree with you.I do think Apollo is playing a part, but whether he is the brains or not I can’t

I thought about

did the phone

I looked at Zayd.

was on the phone before lunch, and I

was planning to come and speak

little, "Why not talk on the phone

at me, "Vampires are very private, secretive

me as he led me to sit down, "And your pacing is about to

with a sigh, wishing none of

Colby, Dane looked at Zayd, "I spoke with Uncle Dayton for a

the very few people I fully trust

looked something as drastic as moving a whole pack, but then again,

needed to

does he want to do that?"

he said he has good reason to do it.Dayton said his loyalty lies with his family and, as far as the Royal Pack goes, his loyalty is with you.He’s never been a

to hear his loyalty wasn’t with Apollo,

he has been willing to stand beside us without hesitation from

Adria

chair, "remind Ash and Colby that Dominick will

left us alone in the office, the silence once again filling